The Clone Defects’ first album, “Blood On Jupiter” was a top-form exercise in snotty, trashy punk rawk; their second, 'Shapes of Venus' is a more complex beast.

Building on a solid base of Dead Boys-influenced idiot savant rock’n’roll, it broadens their sound with some killer riffs, freaky guitar splatter and ace lo-fi reverb.

Thus, the opening seconds of 'Low Fashion Lovers' momentarily sounds like the beginning of Pink Floyd’s 'Astronomy Domine', 'Stray Boy' has a few “Shoo-aps!” before the razor edge guitar solo, 'I Rock I Ran Plastic Stuff”' is backed by a delirious stomp, 'Dear John' is a countrified instrumental, 'Still Poor' has some glossy backing female vocals and 'Fill My Fridge' has some brain-damaged Rolling Stones-style piano, courtesy of engineer Jim Diamond. Bassist Chuck Fogg and drummer Fast Eddie keep up a hardhitting rhythm for guitarist Wild Mid Wes to scratch all over while Timmy Vulgar tunefully whines his way through tunes about being down and out. (There’s also a cover of Otis Redding’s 'That’s How Strong My Love Is'.)

This album makes a great companion to Black Lips! similarly crazed album on Bomp; fans of groups like The New Bomb Turks and Reatards will get a kick out of it as well.